Ammunition feed and control system



1951 E. J. MEYER AMMUNITION FEED AND CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. EDWARD J. MEYER Filed March 5, 1945 Feb. 13, I J MEYERAMMUNITION FEED AND CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2WM 92 v l5 FIG. 6

v VENT0R.- EDWA J. MEYER 8? I TTORNY Feb. 13, 1951 J, MEYER 2,541,530

AMMUNITION FEED AND CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5EDWARD J. MEYER Patentecl Feb. 13, 1951 AMMUNITION FEED AND CONTROLSYSTEM Edward J. Meyer, Normandy, Mm, assignor to Curtiss-WrightCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 5, 1945, SerialNo. 581,131

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to ordnance installations in general andis more particularly cerned with improvements in the operation ofammunition booster systems so that the feeding of ammunition to anautomatic gun may be accurately synchronized with the gun operatingcycle.

Heretofore, the attainment of free and unin terrupted gun firingoperations has been exceedingly difficult in the cases where a boosterdevice exists in the ammunition feed system. There are a number ofreasons why these ammunition booster systems have failed to overcometheobjectionable characteristics prevailing, a principal objection beingthat the booster device has been permitted to function in the system asan independent and uncontolled agency thereby allowing the device tooverfeed ammunition or to continue the feed when the gun has stoppedfiring. It has been found that the belt loads on the booster device arenot sufiicient to bring the device to a rapid stop since the inertiaeffects of the belt moving t high speed produce a detrimental over-runor coast. Consequently the rounds of ammunition actually pile up in the[chute between the booster and gun and produce a jam impossible for thegun to break.

According to the present invention the system of boosting an ammunitionbelt toward the gun has been greatly improved, so much so thatammunition can not be caused to pile up or jam in the chute and thusproduce or contribute to faulty gun operation. The improved boostersystem may be adapted for any arrangement of gun and remotely positionedammunition case or magazine. In general, the present invention providesa simple and positive control for the ammunition booster device so thatthe action of the booster device is made to synchronize with and becomea function of the gun operation thereby preventing the occurrence ofchute jams, overfeed to the gun and objectionable ammunition belt dragloads on the gun feeding mechanism.

The invention has as its principal object the provision of asynchronized ammunition booster system for automatic guns so thatoperational failure of the guns will be minimized or substantiallyeliminated.

, It is an object to provide an ammunition booster control system whichshall be rendered initially operative through the gun trigger system andwhich shall thereafter function to supply ammunition to the gun at arate just sufficient to assure normal gun action.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an ammunitionbooster system particular- 1y suitable for use in aircraft, and toutilize the booster for moving belted ammunition to an automatic gunfrom a remotely located magazine, thereby reducing the ammunition dragload on the gun, and especially the drag load developed duringaccelerated maneuvers of the aircraft.

An object of the invention is to provide a control. device for alteringthe operation of the synchronized booster system during the periods whengravitational accelerations developed by the gun carriers spacemovements produce forces sufficient to impede the free functioning ofthe synchronized system wherebythe impedance maybe overcome by thecontrol device to permit continuous and free operation of the boostersystem.

Another object is to provide a control device of the noted characterwhich is directly and adjustably responsive to centrifugal andgravitational forces for its operation and to relate the device with anelectric power booster motor control switch in a manner causing theswitch to have a control phase for synchronizing other parts of thesystem or to cutoff said switch thereby eliminating synchronized actionin the system.

A further object resides in the form and construction of the controllingdevice to facilitate its assembly and'to give assurance of reliableoperation, there being included provisions for making adjustments toprovide a selective range of operation.

These and other objects will be set forth in greater detail in thefollowing description relating to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the ammunitionbooster unit and controlling system, certain portions of the structurebeing broken away for clarity,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a typical automatic gun wherein certaindetailsof the recoil type ammunition feed mechanism of the gun have beenshown'in a schematic manner as will appear presently,

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, schematically, successive positional phasesof operation of the control mechanism associated with the ammunitionbooster unit,

Figure 5 is an electrical wiring circuit which may be incorporated inthe control system for the ammunition booster unit,

Figure dis a side elevational view of a modified control device shown inoperative position (full line) and in non-operative position (dottedline), certain portions being cut away to show details,-

Figure-'7 is apartialdetailed plan view from the'under side of thecontrol device of Figure 6.-

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional elevation at line 8-8 of Figure 6 andFigure 9 is a general view in perspective of an automatic gun and turretinstallation in an aircraft indicated in outline only, the particularfeatures, details of construction and assembly of the present inventionbeing clearly emphasized in other views.

Specifically, the booster organization (Figure 1) includes a rotary drumit having a pair of axially spaced sprocket members Ii mounted thereonfor rotation with the drum. A typical sprocket is shown clearly inFigures 3, 4 and 6. an electric motor i2 (Figure and driving connections(not shown) are housed internally of the drum is while the drum andsprocket unit is rotatably carried in a housing structure l3 as shown.The sprocket members it (only one being shown) are formed with toothelements i4 (Figures 3 and 4;) suitably spaced to receive successiveshell cases it of the ammunition belt. The belt is made up of the shellsi5 linked together by the usual and well-known separate looped elementsit which encircle the shell cases. This belt arrangement conforms toconventional practices and further description is believed unnecessary.

The belted rounds of ammunition are placed initially in a container ormagazine 2%} such that the belt may be led out of the magazine at thezone 2| and into the path of travel of the booster sprockets l i whereit is positioned in engagement with the sprocket teeth elements It. Theammunition belt is then directed through a sheet metal or other rigidtype chute structure 22 extending along the top surface of the magazineand in the direction of the gun 23. The rigid chute structure 22 mayextend the full distance to the gun 23 or it may be terminated at anydesired point whereupon a flexible type chute structure (not shown) canbe used to direct and confine the belt over the remaining distance tothe gun. One practice is to employ a rigid chute which extends to withinapproximately twenty to twenty-five rounds of ammunition from the gunand to insert a flexible chute means over the remaining span. Thisallows considerable unrestrained movement of the gun for purposes ofaiming at a rapidly moving target, such as a hostile airplane. Moreover,the rigid chute portion reduces the build-up of drag loads on the gunand produces definite improvement in the ability of the gun feedmechanism to draw in the belted shells positioned in the chute.

The feed mechanism (Figure 2) associated with and forming a part of thegun 23 is positioned in the feed chamber 24 and comprises a feed pawl 25pivotally mounted on a reciprocating cross-head or slide block 26 whichis, in turn, moved by an oscillating member 21 forming a part of the gunrecoil unit (not shown). The feed pawl 25 is spring urged into positiveengagement with the shell cases as shown so that as the driving member2'! moves slide block 26 to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, theammunition belt is drawn into the chamber 2 5 and the empty belt link itejected at the opposite side from the ammunition feed side. The strokeof the slide block 2c is just sufiicient to advance each round ofammunition to the midpoint of the chamber where it may be withdrawn fromthe link and moved into the gun breech. The return movement of pawl 25momentarily releases the ammunition belt and therefore a stop pawl 28 isprovided to prevent the belt from backing out of the feed chamber. Thegun feed mechanism just described conforms to conventional practice andunder normal conditions is sufiiciently powerful to draw the ammunitionbelt into the gun directly from the magazine. A normal conditionpresupposes that the magazine will be placed near the gun and onapproximately the same level so that the weight of the belt and shellcases will not impose too great a load or drag on the feed mechanism ofthe gun.

However, there are many gun installations and arrangements where it isimpossible or impractical to place the ammunition magazine in a positionsuitable for minimizing the belt loads on the gun. A typical arrangementin this latter category is the turrent gun (Figure 9) wherein the gun isflexibly mounted at the upper portion of the turret structure and themagazine is positioned near the floor of the turret and consid erablybelow the level of the gun feed chamber. In this latter case it is thepractice to provide a booster device, usually of electrical type, atsome point in the line or" travel of the ammunition belt. The purpose ofthe booster device is to reduce the ammunition belt load on the gun byapplying an extra push or boost so that the net load imposed upon andexperienced by the gun feed mechanism is maintained within permissiblelimits. If the ammunition belt drag load is adjusted properly, the flowor movement of shells toward the gun can be facilitated and positive gunoperation assured.

One form and arrangement of the synchronized booster control system isillustrated in the draw ing as an electrically operated booster unitrelated with the electric circuit (Figure 5), this circuit beingcontrolled by a switch element movable with the gun trigger indicateddiagrammatically at 29. The power line 38 for the motor l2, the latterbeing housed in booster drum I0, is led to a terminal block 31(Figure 1) which is secured to a sheet metal bracket 32 carried on thebooster supporting structure 53. The terminal block is provided with aseries of cable connector posts, posts 33 and 3 being selected for thepower input line 33. From terminal block posts 34, 35 and 36 three lines31, 38 and. 39 connect with the motor 12 and are arranged to providecurrent for operating the motor forwardly or reversely. The direction ofmotor rotation is directly controlled by a single pole, double throwsnap switch 40 mounted on the structure 53 and having circuitconnections ii, 32 and #3 with the respective terminal block posts 33,35 and M. A resistance unit or coil housed in member G8 and carried onsupporting elements t? secured to the bracket 32 is suitably connectedto terminal posts 36 and 5G by short leads &8 and 59 so as to bepositioned in the motor circuit and on the reversing side thereof. Themotor [2 (Figure 5) is provided with a field coil for forward rotation(clockwise when viewed from Figure 1) and a reversely wound field coil5| for reverse rotation (counter-clockwise when viewed from Figure 1).Full line current is applied to the field coil 50 through lines El and38, while the field coil 5| is connected in series with the resistanceunit 45 so that a reduced line current is available for reverserotation.

The means for controlling the operation of the motor i2 and itsdirection of rotation in accordance with the firing cycle of theautomatic gun 23 is the snap switch so. This switch comprises (Figures3, 4 and 5) a central contact arm which is forced to assume either oftwo positions by :means .of .a resilient ioperating- :arm 56 and aco-acting toggle spring :5]. The spring-5:1 is.car-

. ried :between the switch :arm 55 .and operating arm 56 and is.capableof assuming the .positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 whereby .the.arm 55 is forced to move with considerable snap in adirection oppositeto the movement .of .arm .56. To either side of the contact arm .55 arefixedly positioned cooperating arms 58. and .59 whereby upon movement ofthe contact arm 55 acomplete 1 .electrical circuit is made through themotor field coils 50 and iii, respectively. The .arm .55 is providedwith .a silver or other suitable double faced contact point Bit, asshown, while the arms 58 and .59. are provided with similar contactpoints 16;! and a2 respectively. The several switch .arms 55, '58 and556 are mounted between a series of insulating blocks 53 andsecuredinassembly by suitable bolts 64, all as clearly shown.

Referring again to Figures .1, 3 and 4, it will be observed that snapswitch is mounted, by means of a suitable bracket 5Z5, on the boostermotor supporting and ,housi-ngstructure l3 .at-the end wall thereof andin a position overlying the line of travel of the belted cartridge oasesl5.

More specificall the switch is positioned near the base portion of theshells where the spring leaf type operating arm 56 canbearranged in itsmost advantageous position closely adjacent the shell cases. The outerend of arm 56 is provided with a roller element 65 and roller mountingfork 66, the arrangement being such that the roller 65 projects into thepath of travel of each shell case. As a consequence, operating arm 56 ismade to move away from and toward the shells aseach thereof moves underand away from the roller 65. The arm 56 is given aninitial set or isplaced in an initial position which urges the roller 65 into the path ofthe ammunition belt shells thereby assuring that the roller-will alwaysbe in rolling ,5

contact with the shell cases and will move into the spaces ordepressions between the shell cases. For the purpose of furtherdiscussion the term crest will be understood to refer to the position ofroller 65 when riding upon the shell case at the point of maximum riseorlift of the roller and associated arm. The terms depression or valleyshall be taken to refer tothe position of the roller 65 when it ridesdown between adjacent shell cases with the resulting greatest possiblefall. For example a crest position is shown in Figures 1 and 4, whilethe depression is shown in Figure 3.

In operation, the switch or trigger member 29 (Figure 5) is closed onlywhen it is desired to fire the gun. The resulting recoil action of thegun will initiate a forward, step-by-step or jerky movement of theammunition belt. 'IThis intermittent belt advance is necessarilyestablished by the reciprocatory gun feed mechanism and it will alwaysbe present in the system. In prior boosted ammunition feed systems, thebooster unit or device is a continuously-operating agency which has nocoordinated relation with the action of the gun. However, with thepresent system of assisted ammunitionfeed the booster device is made tosynchronize-its,operation with the gun action. This synchronized feed isaccomplished by timing the action of the snap switch 40 with theintermittent action of the gun and also by placing this switch in directcontrol of the booster driving motor. The result is that switch 40 willcause booster motor to operate forwardly and reversely inalternatingoycles whichare exactly or substantially equalto the gunoperatingcycles.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, it will be observed that one possibleinitial position of the operating arm 5.6 .of switch .40 is on the crestof a shell .case 1.5. If at this time the gun is fired, closure oftrigger switch 29 (Figure .5) will energize the booster motor asfollows: Current will flow from line 30 through terminal .35, line 3],motor field 0011.50, return line 3.8, terminal .35, line .42, switchcontacts BI and 60, line ll to terminal .33 and then back into the.power line .30 through trigger switch 29. Motor IE will immediatelyrotate clockwise (as viewed in Figure 1) and feed the ammunition towardthe gun .23. The rotation of motor l2 will cause sprocket H to move theshell out of a crest position and thereby .permit the roller 66 and arm56 to approach the position of depression which is between two adjacentshells (Figure 3). .At some preselected point in the fall of the roller65, switch arm 55 will be snapped over to a position where contacts 16.0and 62 are closed. In this position, the motor .reversingfield coil 5|is energized as follows: Current flows from line 3!! through terminal3.4,line 3i, vfield coil'fii, return line 39, terminal 36, line 438,resistor coil .45, line 49, terminal i l, switch line 43, contacts 62and 60, switch line ii, terminal 33 and back to the power line .30through trigger switch29. The tendency of the motor will be to rotatecounterclockwise (as viewed in Figure 1) thereby exerting aninfluence toreturn the roller 55 to its crest position on the same shell case, asbefore. If the time intervals for power reversal are equal to powerforward time intervals the motor will simply oscillate between the samecrest and depression positions and no forward movement of the ammunitioncan take place.

Forward movement or progressive feeding of the ammunition belt isaccomplished by properly timing and correlating the position of the snapswitch roller 65 and the current strength in each of the motor fieldcoils 60 and M. The booster motor is generally rated at a speed ofapproximately 10,000 to 12,0000 R. ,P. M. on 24 volts direct current,but is equipped witha suitable gear reduction (not shown) so that thebelt engaging sprockets rotate at the considerably reduced speed ofapproximately to 1.10 R. P. M. It is obvious that when full line voltageis thrown on the. motor the sprockets will come up to speed almostinstantly and for purposes of this discussion it will be 50 considered.Therefore, the electrical system for the booster motor is arranged tosupply full line current when the snap switch 4.0 is in the forwardrunning position (Figure 4) which .corresponds to a full rise orcrestposition. Also full line current is maintained over asubstantialdeviation to either side of this crest. On the other hand thepower reverse cycle for the motor .52

has been modified to an extent sufficient onlymomentarily to reversethe-current supply under normal operating conditions and with the roller65 in a closely defined depressed zone. Furthermore, the tendency forthe motor to reverse its rotation has been considerably dampened by theinsertion of resistor A5 in series with the reversing field coil 6!.This resistor acts to reduce the line voltage thrown on the motor andhence cuts down the rapidity of motor reverse speed pick up. This latteraction is generallyreferred to as plugging which means that by reversingthe current the motor is effectively electrically braked for {quickstoppa .In this way an oscillating motion is imparted to the ammunition.belt which motion can be. made to coincide with the gun feed ;mo.t i onfor assuring a positive and regulated flow of cartridges into the gun.The fact that full line current is made available for the belt feedcycle and reduced line current for the belt reverse cycle makes itentirely possible to carry the belt of ammunition over the periods ofdepression of the switch roller 65 and into the following crest periodsor roller rise. This carry-over result obtains due to the powerfulthrust of the motor in the feed direction and the relatively weak thrustdeveloped in the reversing direction. Combined with this electricalcircuit arrangement is the control switch 46 which is positioned withrespect to the cartridge cases or shells l for maintaining the rollerelement 65 in its power on phase position during a time intervalapproximately three to four times the interval of roller phase positionfor power reverse. Thus the contact elements 6E6l are maintained incircuit make position for a longer time than for the period of circuitmake position of reverse current contact elements 6l62.

It is also to be noted that the system operation thus far describedtakes place only during the periods of gun firing action and while it ispossible for the ammunition belt to move forward in the chute withoutstoppage. When, however, an obstruction develops the forward progress ofthe belt between the booster unit and gun feed chamber is brought to astandstill and the booster motor, if not stopped, is slowed downconsiderably. This slowing down result permits the roller 65 aproportionately longer period of time or dwell in the depressed phaseand thus increases the plugging effect on the motor. The final result isthat the motor will simply oscillate or rock back and forth withoutactually feeding the ammunition. As long as the trigger switch 29 isdepressed the motor oscillation or rocking will continue and theammunition belt will be jerked back and forth with no actual forwardprogress. It should be obvious by how that any obstruction which mayoccur either in the chute structure between the booster device and thegun feed chamber or in the gun itself will slow down the booster motorand cause the switch 40 to alter the power on-power reverse cyclessufficiently to prevent any further forward progress of the belt.

When the above described control system is applied to a turret guninstallation 68 such as that generally indicated in connection with theaircraft G9 in Figure 9 it frequently happens that the gun ceases tofunction properly during violent or accelerated flight maneuvers. Thecause of this is attributed to induced gravitional forces, usuallyreferred to as G effects. After repeated tests it has been determinedthat for acceleration forces of approximately 3 G or less the firstdescribed control sytsem will be adequate to maintain proper gun action.For values of approximately 3 G or greater the control system isrendered inoperative for continuing the flow of ammuntion toward thegun. Therefore, a modified control of the type hereinafter to bedescribed will introduce a control means competent to respond to andmeasure the G effects and adjust the electric circuit control switch 39accordingly. Normally this means is maintained inoperative and switch 40continues to rise and fall as noted, but when the acceleration forcesreach or exceed substantially 3 Gs the switch control means operates tohold the switch arm 56 in the power on or crest position (Figure 4) andthe booster motor is free to feed ammunition continuously. By so doing,the full power of the booster motor 8 is available to force the roundsof ammunition through the chute at the time when the rubbing frictiontherebetween tends to retard or hamper the movement of ammunition towardthe gun.

With reference to Figures 6, '7 and 8, the snap switch 40 is providedwith a small U-shaped bracket 75 secured to the switch block by means ofbolts 64 to provide a fixed mount for the switch controller member '58,the controller member being pivotally carried on this bracket by meansof pivot pins 19 loosely carried in the bracket and peen-ed into theside walls of the member 18 as clearly shown in Figure 8. The assemblymay be mounted in any convenient manner to a fixed structure as thebracket 53. The member 18, which is freely pivotally carried on thebracket i5, is formed into a channel configuration and is furtherprovided with spaced and longitudinally extending arms 6! as an integraland continuous part of the side walls. Each of the arms 8| is bentinwardly an amount sufficient to bring the inturned finger portion 32under the switch arm 56 when observed in plan view (Figure 7). Thus whenthe member E8 pivots counterclockwise about the pins 19 (Figure 6) thefinger elements 32 (dotted line position) contact the arm 56 at eitherside and interfere with the normal oscillating motion thereof under theinfluence of the rounds of ammuntion.

Gravitational influence on member '38 is developed by an adjustable mass33 mounted at the lower end of this member and secured thereto by meansof a bolt 84 which is positioned in a longitudinal slot 85 and held inadjusted position by the nut 86. The slot 35 is formed in the base plate8'! of the channel member as shown in Figure 7. The mass 33 consists ofa cup member 38 filled with lead or other material 89 which will permithigh weight concentration in the relatively small space provided. Leadis preferred because of its unit weight had because it is easilyhandled. Further, the lead may be poured into the cup when molten so asto fill the slot in the bolt head and act as the means to prevent boltrotation when making positional adjustments of the mass 33.

The means for retaining the member it in the inoperative (full line)position as shown in Figure 6 and to oppose the action of the mass 83under the effects of gravitational forces comprises a resilient memberor coil spring at which at one end is soldered or otherwise secured to asmall plate 95, the latter element being retained in position under thehead of bolt ti l (Figure 7). The opposite end of this spring 96 isadapted to fit loosely over the upset head of a retaining rivet 92positioned in the base plate 93 of the channel member it. Other springretainer means such as a cup or recess formed in plate 2'33 may beprovided for this same purpose.

The above described switch control members and its several parts andelements is easily fabricated and can be made as substantial and ruggedas the conditions require. Some saving in weight can be effected bycutting away a portion of the channel base between the sections 8? and93, the resulting aperture 94 will then provide the necessary access tothe terminals of the switch block for the electrical wires (not shown)running between this switch and the remainder of the electrical system.

The control member F8 is adapted to respond to induced gravitationalforces and in so doing the action thereof is transmitted to theosoillating switch arm 56 through the inturned finger elements 82to'move the roller 55 out of the line of travel of the rounds ofammunition. Asbefore noted when this control mechanism is applied toaircraft gun installations (Figure 9) the initial setting for the mass83 and the strength of spring 96 should be arranged to maintain themember T8 in its inoperative position for gravitational forces of valuesup to substantially 3 G and to permit the member to pivot into switchinterrupting position for forces of 3 G and greater. In one testinstallation it was found that faulty gun firing action developed whenthe gravitational force was about 3' G. Not all installations will be soaffected that a setting of the mass 83 may be made for 3 G effects alonewithout regard to other factors. A few tests will soon indicate at whatG value or range of G values faulty gun action develops and anadjustment can be made accordingly. Each new installation, however, mustbe considered separately so that the full sensitivity and action of thedevice can be realized. The position of the switch dd relative to thepath of travel of the ammunition belt, the direction and magnitude ofcalculated or 'expected gravitational influences and certain otherfactors shall all be directly determinative of the desired location andarrangement h reof and of the spring constant and mass values andsettings to be made.

Obviously other system arrangements may be made or will suggestthemselves after a study of the controlv system above described andcertain structural modifications and changes will come to mind,.but itis the aim hereof to cover all such variations as come within the scopeof the claims appearing below.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling the movement of an ammunition belt toward amachine gun having recoil operated means for initiating the advance ofthe belt in accordance with its firing cycle, said system comprising areversible electric motor, a source of electrical current and a circuitincluding said motor, means driven by said motor for moving theammunition belt toward said machine gun, means disposed in saidelectrical circuit and responsive to the movement of said ammunitionbelt for conditioning the motor for forward and reverse impulses incycles synchronized substantially with the operating cycle of saidrecoil operated means, and a gun trigger in said electrical circuit forcompleting the circuit between said motor and current source uponinitiation of gun firing.

2; A system for regulating the feed movement of belted cartridges towarda machine gun having recoil operated means adapted to establish a cyclicadvance of the cartridges, and a cartridge magazine remote from themachine gun, said system comprising power operated means for feeding orretarding thebelted cartridges in their movement from said magazine, andregulating means for cycling the power operated means to feed or retardthe belted cartridges in accordance with the machine gun recoil cycle,said regulating means including an element arranged to have contact withthebelted cartridges as the same move toward the machine gun andoscillate between av crest and a depressed position whereby saidregulating means is rendered effective to cycle saidlpower operatedmeans.

3. A system for regulating the feed movement of belted cartridges towarda machine gun having recoil operated means adapted to establish a cyclicadvance of the cartridges, and a cartridge magazine remote-from themachine gun, said system comprising power operated means of electricallyreversible type for feeding or retarding the belted cartridges in theirmovement from said magazine, a source of electrical power for said poweroperated means, and regulating means for reversing the power for thepower operated means to feed and retard the belted cartridges in cyclesin accordance with the machine gun recoil cycle, said regulating meansincluding an element arranged to-have contact with the belted cartridgesas the same move toward the machine gun and oscillate between a crestand a depressed position whereby said regulating means is renderedeffective to cycle saidpower operated means.

4. A system for feeding belted ammunition into an automatic gun whichmay be mounted on a highly maneuverable body such as an aircraft or thelike the gun having means for advancing the belted ammunition thereintoin accordance with its firing cycle, comprising motor operated means formoving the belted ammunition toward thegun, control means normallyoperable intermittently for interrupting such operation of said. motoroperated means substantially in synchronization with movement of theammunition by said advancing means, and means sensitive and movable-inresponse to high acceleration of the entire system connected to saidcontrol means to override same upon movement of the accelerationresponsive means, to energize said motor operated means for continuousoperation in an ammunition advancing direction.

5. A- system for feeding a cartridge belt into an automatic gun ofhighly mobile type having means actuated by the automatic gun for movingthe cartridge belt into the same in accordance with its firing cycle,comprising a reversible electric motor, means driven by saidmotor andengageable with the cartridge belt for moving the same, a motorreversing switch for determining the direction of rotation of saidreversible motor including an operating element extending into the'pathof movement of the cartridges such that successive cartridges willengage and cause said element to rise and'fall, the rise and fall ofsaid element being effective to operate said reversing switch toforwardand reversing positions respectively in substantial synchronism with theoperating cycle of said gun actuated means for moving the cartridgebelt, and means responsive to a predetermined gravitational influence asa result of accelerated movement of the mobile automatic gun for movingsaid operating element to its raised position whereby said electricmotor is conditioned for continuous forward rotation.

6. A system: for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunwhich has means operated thereby for moving the cartridges thereinto asrequired by the gun firing cycle, said system comprising: reversiblemotor driven means for applying to the belt alternating forward impulsesto move the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, with the forwardimpulses of greater intensity than the reverse impulses, and means forcontrolling the application of said impulses to the belt in timedrelation to the movement of cartridges past said motor driven means.

7. A system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gun, saidsystem comprising reversible drive means for applying to the beltalternating forward impulses to move the belt toward the gun and reverseimpulses, and means for controlling the application of said impulses tothe belt in timed relation to the movement of cartridges past said drivemeans and with the forward impulses of greater magnitude than thereverse impulses.

8. A system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gun, saidsystem comprising reversible drive means for applying to the beltalternating forward impulses to move the belt toward the gun and reverseimpulses, with the forward impulses of greater intensity than thereverse impulses, and means for controlling the application of saidimpulses to the belt in timed relation to the movement of cartridgespast said drive means and with the forward impulses of longer durationthan the reverse impulses.

9. A system for feeding a train of cartridges into an automatic gun thatis provided with means for receiving cartridges in timed relation to thegun firing cycle, said system comprising: reversible drive means forapplying to said train alternating forward impulses to move the traintoward the gun and reverse impulses, and means for controlling theapplication of said impulses to the train with the forward impulses ofgreater magnitude than the reverse impulses and in timed relation to themovement of cartridges past said motor drive means to move the traintoward the gun in accordance with said firing cycle.

10. In a system for feeding a train of cartridges into an automatic gun,reversible drive means for applying to said train alternating forwardimpulses to move the train toward the gun and reverse impulses, a memberfor following the cartridges for movement thereby in timed relation tothe passage of individual cartridges past the drive means, and meansoperated by said member for controlling the application of said impulsesto the train with the forward impulses of greater magnitude than thereverse impulses.

11. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunas required by the gun firing cycle, drive means for the belt includinga reversib e motor for applying to the belt alternatin forward impulsesto move the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, means for causingthe reverse impulses to be of less intensity than the forward impulses,and a reversing switch associated with the motor for controlling theapplication of said impulses to the belt in timed relation to themovement of cartridges past said drive means.

12. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunas required by the gun firing cycle, drive means for the belt includinga reversible motor for applying to the belt alternating forward impulsestomove the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, means for causingthe reverse impulses to be of less intensity than the forward impulses,a member for following the cartridges for movement thereby in timedrelation to the passage of individual cartridges past the drive means,and a reversing switch operated by said member for controlling theapplication of said impulses to the belt.

13. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunas required by the gun firing cycle, drive means for the belt includinga reversible motor for applying to the belt alternating forward impulsesto move the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, means for causingthe reverse impulses to be of less intensity than the forward impulses,a member for following the cartridges for movement thereby in timedrelation to the passage of individual cartridges past the drive means, areversing switch operated by said member for controlling the motor, andsnap action means connecting said member to the switch for holding thelatter in forward or reverse positions.

14. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunas required by the gun firing cycle, drive means for the belt includinga reversible motor for applying to the belt alternating forward impulsesto move the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, means for causingthe reverse impulses to be of less intensity than the forward impulses,a member for following the cartridges for movement thereby in timedrelation to the passage of individual cartridges past the drive means, areversing switch operated by said member for controlling the motor, andsnap action means connecting said member to the switch for holding thelatter in forward or reverse positions, said snap action means beingarranged to hold the switch in forward position during a greater portionof belt travel than in reverse position thereof.

15. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gun,reversible drive means for applying to the belt alternating forwardimpulses to move the belt toward the gun and reverse impulses, means forcontrolling the application of said alternating impulses to the belt intimed relation to the movement of cartridges past said drive means andwith the forward impulses of greater magnitude than the reverseimpulses, and means responsive to acceleration of the system ofpredetermined degree for causing the drive means to apply a continuousforward driving force to the belt.

16. In a system for feeding a belt of cartridges into an automatic gunmounted upon a mobile support, reversible drive means for applyingalternating forward impulses to move the belt toward the gun and reverseimpulses, means for controlling the drive means to effect the alternateapplication of forward and reverse impulses to the belt with the forwardimpulses of greater magnitude than the reverse impulses, and meansresponsive to acceleration of the said support of predetermined degreeto cause the drive means to apply a continuous forward driving force tothe belt.

EDWARD J. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 17, 1930Great Britain Dec. 29, 1941 Great Britain June 29, 1943 Number Number

